The problem of organizing weak states; and why Africa needs a new model of Pan-Africanism
Africa’s regional hegemons must step up in the management of Continental affairs; doing so would not necessarily violate the spirit of Pan-Africanism.
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This post answers two questions. First, why are African international organizations (IOs) so weak? Given the weakness of many of the region’s states, shouldn’t it be possible for the Continent’s interstate organizations to dictate and enforce collective policies? After all, African states are infamous for outsourcing significant chunks of their policymaking. Second, what can be done to strengthen African IOs?
Answering these questions is important in an era of multipolarity and shifting global geopolitical alliances. The long twentieth century has ended; and the international system is about to get a lot more dangerous for weak states. And given their current levels of capacity and lack of strategic self-awareness, African states will only…